Spark plugs/steering lube

[NovaNewfie]

I went to my local(2 hr drive)New Holland dealer the other day and got a new head gasket for my '48 8N. While I was there I got a set of Autolite Spark plugs. They are 216's is this the correct spark plug, I've read guys on here using 437's.
How do I check the steering lube oil level in a '48 8N. What kind of oil do I use? Can I use 80w90 gear oil, can I use the same oil in my tranny/diff? Is there a drain plug so I can drain and refill?
Thanks

 

[weaveman]

I'm using 80w90 in mine with no issues- it's a little thinner for cold illinois days. I think the 437's are just a hotter plug, but if it ran fine before and ain't an oil burner, you will be fine. I used champion h10's, h12's, and my new set are the al437's, and I can't tell a difference between the 3. To be honest though I haven't heard of using that plug in an N though. But I don't know everything. My wife says I don't know anything. She may be right. LOL

 

[weaveman]

oh- and there are 3 drain plugs you have to take off to get all the tranny fluid out. When you refill make sure to check how full it is at about 4 gallons, as there could be up to a gallon of sludge in the bottom. If it was totally clean it would hold 5. I use the rest to cap off my steering box, but it doesn't leak either. If it did I hear cornhead grease is a great alternative to stop leaking boxes.

 

[Old Fel-Pro rep]

Try Ford Motorcraft #SP474

 

[Dell (WA)]

NovaNewfie.......the "original" sparkplug in 1939 was Champion H-10 and thru the 1952 8N. The AutoLite 216 is the equivalent of the H-10. The 1939 engine was designed for low compression, low 70-octane white gas. (NO ethel lead additives)

Modern NO-LEAD gas is 87-octane and FOULS the colder H-10 and 216. That is why we recommend HOTTER AutoLite 437's (gapped 0.025) Champion no longer make the equivalent hotter H-12. They make an RH-12, which is a resistor design to reduce radio interference and it takes a STRONGER sparkie coil than the sparkie coils used on N-Tractors.

And for the same reason, DO NOT USE modern anti-static carbon-core sparkie wire. USE old fashioned COPPER-CORE sparkie wire with soft flexible silicone insulation ......, Dell, yer self-appointed sparkie-meister

 

[NovaNewfie]

Mine had J8C champion plugs in it. I looked in the champion book and it called for H12. Its got a 12 volt round coil jimmied rigged to work on the front mount distributer with no resistor. It was fouling the plugs bad (needs ring job) so I opened the gap to 40 thou and it didn't foul near as bad. The wires on it are crap though looks like they took them off an old lawnmower.

 

[NovaNewfie]

Cornhead greese? The Al216 is what the Ford tractor shop had for a listing, a hotter plug won't hurt. Is there a drain plug for the steering box. I haven't found the fill plug yet (do you have to take the dash off?)

 

[Dell (WA)]

NovaNewfie.......take them COLD J8's OUT. No wonder yer fouling. J8's are 1/2" reach and H-10's are even shorter 7/16" reach. You'll be lucky to unscrew yer longer threaded J8's 'cuz that extra 1/2-thread showing gitts carboned and FREEZES and you haffa really bustta nutt to gitt'em loose. Understand???

Then install some AutoLite 437's gapped = 0.025" and they won't foul and you'll have eazier starting too. .......listen to the voice.....whoo-whoo (eirry spooky sound, eh?)

The change yer OLD DRIED OUT SPARKIE WIRES to new soft'n'flexible silicone insulated COPPER-CORE sparkie wires. Understand??? .......respectfully, Dell, yer self-appointed sparkie-meister

 

[Ian in NS]

NovaNewfie:
are you in the Maritimes? i.e 2 hr drive to NH dealer. I"m near Lunenburg, NS.

 

[NovaNewfie]

I'm in NS. Had to go to Moncton the dealer in Amherst went bankrupt last year.